Location| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Dubai, UAE
Type| multi-unit residential
Size| 690 feet, 42 stories, 168 units (2,400 sf)
Status| concept
Recently in conversation a few colleagues of mine were discussing modular construction and how it was only attributed to small-medium residential applications. Well I took the conversation topic to heart and started to look at a residential tower concept where most pieces are to be pre-fab and lifted into place. At the moment several other experts are looking at the design and determining what components could indeed be pre-fab. The design is also looking into sustainability and energy conservation. Structurally a concrete and steel frame with pre-cast concrete, metal panel exterior cladding would be used. This is a design concept and not a realized project; however the design is targeted at a warmer climate such a Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo area.
UPDATE: Please review the second part of this series > 4×10 Luxury Lofts
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design images
21 Sep 09 9:48 PM
I love it, but I wonder why it has yet to be done. It seems like such an simple concept…design a module and stack them like LEGOs.
The renderings are awesome. I would love to see it as a montage in Rio.
Do you have a floor plan?
22 Sep 09 11:12 AM
Historically tall buildings have repetitive floors and an exterior skin that is manipulated to distinguish appearance. It’s unfortunate that most of these buildings after removing the skin would just be columns and floors which compels to mention there is an economy to the “Domino House” method instated by Le Corbusier back in 1914. Currently we see a trend in the work of Frank Gehry to overstate the skin and manipulate the columns and floors to support the form leaving the exterior not fully evident on the inside.
For a long time I have designed buildings that are form driven with the intention of gaining interest both inside and out simultaneously. One example is a small commercial project I designed in Pawtucket RI (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#/photo.php?pid=50374&id=1277873311) where the exterior form generated the interior spaces in an effort to achieve “bang for the buck” economy. The structural steel was erected in mostly 1 day due to simple -complex design.
The 2-4-6-8 [concept] is an effort to unitize the residential modular and create architecture that is more expressive. The design of the [concept] is extremely simple in terms of design time and process needed to develop the basic idea. On a more advanced level the details and structural aspects could also be achieved simply. It would be interesting to acquire a cost of construction analysis and compare it to more traditional designs.
Another option for the 2-4-6-8 [concept] is that with the purchase of a unit, the owner is also provided with an equal modular outside the city limits. Each unit is capable of being a free standing residence in the country.
Residence plans are 2,400 square feet plus outside terrace area.